Is it possible for a debt collection agency to harass you without ever getting in contact with you directly? Can a third party debt collector bypass you at home and at work by calling people that are close to you? Some bill collectors like to shame consumers into paying off outstanding debts by calling friends, family members, and professional peers. According to a monumental consumer protection law, shaming consumers into taking care of delinquent credit card and personal loan balances is against the law.
In response to growing discontent among consumers, the United States Congress passed the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). The 1977 federal consumer protection law outlaws dozens of debt collection practices that were previously deemed legally acceptable. In addition to prohibiting a wide variety of debt collection tactics, the FDCPA also gives consumers the right to seek monetary damages for one or more violations of the FDCPA.
Types of Phone Calls Outlawed by the FDCPA
You probably have heard about the negative mental health consequences of sleep deprivation. Lack of sleep over an extended period can cause people to make poor decisions because of the lack of sound judgment. Many debt collection agencies practice a form of sleep deprivation by calling consumers in the middle of the night. You fall asleep only to wake up an hour later to the loud ringing of the bedroom telephone.
As one of the pillars of the FDCPA, there is a provision that makes it illegal for third party debt collectors to call consumers during certain times of the day. The FDCPA makes it illegal for a bill collector such as Collection Bureau of the Hudson Valley to call you anywhere between the hours of 9 pm and 8 am. If Collection Bureau of the Hudson Valley places a call to your cell phone at 11:00 in the evening, you should get in touch with a licensed consumer protection lawyer to determine how to respond to the illegal call.
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How to Force Collection Bureau of the Hudson Valley to Stop Calling
Many bill collectors prey on the lack of knowledge consumers have concerning their federal granted consumer protection rights. For example, did you know that by working with a FDCPA attorney, you might stop the phone calls made by a third party debt collector? Most bill collectors back off when confronted with the legal expertise of an experienced FDCPA lawyer.
Your attorney has other legally sanctioned options to stop the phone calls made by a debt collection agency. He or she can request a meeting to negotiate a settlement for the outstanding debt in question. In addition, your FDCPA lawyer can invoke the statute of limitations imposed by your state for the collection of delinquent consumer debts.
Seeking Monetary Damages
Dealing with an aggressive third party debt collector that makes harassing phone calls can become a distraction in the workplace. Lower productivity and/or numerous absences can lead employers to cut back the hours of employees that are under siege from bill collectors. If your attorney can prove harassing phone calls made by a debt collection agency cost you wages, you have the right to seek monetary damages to recover the lost wages.
Speak with an accomplished consumer protection attorney today to learn more about how the FDCPA helps protect you against harassing third party debt collector phone calls.
Additional Resources
*Disclaimer: The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be constructed as legal advice. If you file a claim against Collection Bureau of the Hudson Valley or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.